Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The land between the Seelie and Unseelie is called neutral territory, even though it is the most terrifying place for either kind to stand. The meeting spot is a clearing in the dark forest, lined by luminescent mushrooms that watch the proceedings curiously.

Wilbur is young, in fae years. His emergence was only three hundred years ago, which makes him younger than almost everyone that has gathered. Despite this, he is the heir to the Seelie Court, over his older brother, who renounced the crown as soon as Wilbur was made. He stands at his father’s side, dressed in the rich emerald colours of the Seelie court. It is Spring in their world, so light armour accompanies their dress. Being a young fae, he is not allowed out unaccompanied. At his other side is his brother, four-hundred years his elder, and a master swordsman.

A small fleet of guard accompany them, trusted Seelie that Wilbur was raised with. Niki is the closest to his age, smiling over at him as they watch the Unseelie approach. Technoblade, his brother, does not look impressed. A hand drifts to his sword; no doubt his instincts are screaming at him to protect Wilbur.

Opposite them, stands the Prince of the Unseelie. He is Technoblade’s age, raised during the last war. A fierce warrior, but someone that they, ultimately, trusted. More than the current King. The time would come when the Seelie court secretly assisting Prince Dream in overthrowing his father, but now was not this time.

‘Why have you summoned me, Princeling?’ Wilbur’s father, Philza, asks. He acts disinterested, but Wilbur knows that he’s secretly glad to leave the Seelie court for a while. There’s a certain excitement to sneakily meeting in the neutral grounds, looking out at the opposite court. They are dressed in a navy colour, with at least fifteen guards surrounding the youngest of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts, the Prince’s younger brother.

As if he realises that Wilbur thinks of him, Toby’s yellow-eyes look over at him. They swirl back to brown, content and happy under the safety of his brother’s protection.

Dream straightens his back, bowing his head respectfully. ‘Your Majesty, I would not have bothered you had it not been an urgent matter.’

They have not seen each other in at least eight summers, Wilbur thinks. Not that it is a long time for a fae.

Phil hums, magic flickering through the clearing. ‘And what would this matter be?’

Dream darts a wary look to his men. They are clearly loyal to him, over their King. It is no surprise, considering the ruthlessness of the fae that rules the Unseelie court. Whatever it is that the Prince is about to say, however, is something that the King would have their heads for.

Wilbur’s intrigued.

After a silence long enough that Wilbur can feel himself aging, the Prince speaks. ‘There is a creature in our court, that I wish for you to protect. He… he is not safe with the King.’

Wilbur grins. This is fascinating news, and something that he has never seen before. Glancing to his brother, he watches as Techno’s eyebrow minutely raises. Perhaps not something he was expecting then, either.

The King of the Seelie court chuckles, ‘Why would I house a creature of the Unseelie?’

Dream shakes his head, ‘He is not… he is neither Seelie, nor Unseelie. It is a fae child.’

The Seelie in the clearing all burst into laughter. Even Wilbur chuckles, because it’s the worst trap he’s ever heard. Then, they all seem to simultaneously remember that neither of them can lie. Not really. They can manipulate the truth, but never outright lie.

Phil halts his laughter. ‘Impossible.’

There are no fae children. They are made, and that is it. When they emerge from their creation, they are fully fledged fae. Able to defend themselves, to hunt and fight, even if they are young. All fae start counting their age from the moment they are created. Wilbur came out of his pod looking very similar to the age he is now; they age incredibly slowly.

Dream grimaces, running a hand through sandy-brown hair. ‘He was born in our court from a fae mother. An infant, raised by the King. He is no longer safe, and that is why I am here, asking for your mercy for him. He… he is like my own nest, but I cannot protect him from the King.’

He is pleading. The heir to the Unseelie court is begging for their help, with tears prickling in unnaturally green eyes. They glow in the low light, shining as he clasps both hands together in front of him. ‘I will swear any item that you require, or pay you riches from our courts—’

‘Halt your speech, Princeling,’ Phil cuts in smoothly, and Dream falls silent. He trembles slightly, reaching for his brother’s hand. ‘If this is true, if it is a fae-child, then he must be protected. Why is your King not doing so?’

The Prince wavers. It is clear he does not want to tell them. Eventually, he admits to the truth. ‘He is too powerful. Gifts develop weekly, and the King is trying to stop them. Already, the child is trying to fly too close to the sun.’

The human myth of Icarus is a surprising reference, and one that Technoblade seems to like. A smile appears on his brother’s lips, before it is gone.

‘How long has it been since he emer… since he was born?’ Phil stumbles over the wording, for no fae has been born in… well. In a very long time. Before Wilbur, before Techno, possibly even before Phil. He’s never heard of a fae being born before.

When Wilbur said children aren’t born, he wasn’t joking. They protect their younglings, but this is different. This is a baby.

‘Fifteen summers.’

A baby.

Phil takes a shuddering breath. ‘I demand nothing for the protection of such a delicate creature—’

Toby snorts at the word delicate,

‘—but how do I know this is not a ploy? That the King is not placing this child into my custody, to destroy my court?’

Whatever Wilbur was expecting, it wasn’t for the Prince to fall to his knees. Dream exhales like the wind has been knocked from his chest, and Toby is quick to comfort him. With a sinking horror, Wilbur realises the Prince is crying.

If this is an act, then it is incredibly convincing. He can smell no lie, no deception at all. Nothing but a burning hatred towards the King, and a sadness that wells up in his chest. ‘He… the King cut off his wings,’ Dream hisses out, teeth as sharp as knives.

Wilbur’s own wings, delicate and paper-thin, recoil. Technoblade lets out a surprised sound, before tugging Wilbur closer to him, the bond between them aching.

Phil stays silent. He looks harrowed by this news, face drawn into a grim look of determination.

‘Bring him to me, and I give you my word, I will do him no harm.’

Dream’s smile is shaky. ‘I owe you anything your heart desires, your Majesty.’

Phil just turns his back on the kneeling Prince, heading back in the direction of his Kingdom. ‘Send word of a plan. I do not trust the trees to keep this secret.’

Wilbur looks to the forest, older than the fae, and wonders if they intend on spreading the news of the baby fae. He doesn’t have time to ponder over the thought, though, because Techno is guiding him away from the clearing by the shoulder, back into the darkness.

The soldiers form ranks around them. They stay silent for a while, until they are sure that the Unseelie can no longer hear. Phil’s ears flick around, like he’s testing for anyone that might be listening, before looking over his shoulder at them. ‘If this is a fae child, then it must be protected at all costs. He’ll need a nest, and a naming ceremony, and—’

‘We can sort it later, old man,’ Techno airily says, as the bond between them tenses and coils. Wilbur’s always likened it to a serpent, wrapping around his heart and controlling his loyalty, despite the fact he would give it willingly. They are family, they are a nest, and there is nothing he would not do for either of them. The warmth reminds him of that, allows him to test the emotions of his kin.

Phil sighs, ‘I am not that old, Tech.’

‘Pretty sure you’re ancient,’ Wilbur teases, enjoying the amusement that flares from Techno’s side of the bond. Wilbur’s always respected his older brother, has trusted him with everything he has.

‘Hush now, youngling. Phil’s becoming broody over the thought of another child,’ Techno murmurs, but it’s loud enough for all of the group to hear. The Seelie around them hide their smiles, knowing it is true. Phil is nothing, if not a mother-hen when it comes to these things.

It raises a good question, though. ‘What will Kristin think of this?’ Wilbur breathes out, and Phil halts, like he’s suddenly remembering his wife.

If there’s one person that will adopt a stray fae, over Phil, it would be Kristin. The Queen of the Seelie court is the most loving, yet fiercely protective, fae that Wilbur has ever met.

‘Two brooding mothers,’ Techno says with a grimace, before ruffling Wilbur’s hair.

The youngest of the group glares up at him, before tucking closer to his side.

After all, the lands between the courts are no place for fae to be roaming.

Chapter Text

‘I don’t want to leave, though,’ his baby brother adamantly argues, a frown crossing his face. There’s a moment when Dream falls prey to it; after all, it is almost impossible to deny someone that he sees as part of his nest. However, with the King’s increasing threats against the baby, it leaves him no choice but to make this sacrifice. He loses his brother, but he gets to keep him safe.

For his age, Tommy is strong. Even now, contained within the court of the Unseelie, his magic is bubbling. Dream watches as it twists angrily, trying to reconnect them. It was a logical decision to shatter the bond between them, even if he didn’t want to. The bite on Tommy’s neck is a constant reminder of his tie to the King, and the treasonous act that he’s about to commit.

The boy looks different from the Unseelie. His ears are positively fae, pointed and wickedly sharp. Occasionally, he has fangs. His eyes are bright blue, too light to be natural. Golden hair that shines in the moonlight of their current season, winter. If Dream is honest with himself, and he tries to be, Tommy neither looks Seelie, or Unseelie. He lacks any other non-human features, save for the stubs of his wings that are bound behind him. When they formed, they were different. In the Unseelie court, the strength of a fae is determined by their wings. Dark blue, the navy of their court, is the strongest a fae could hope for. Seelie wings are focused on size, and as they grow older, they thicken.

Tommy’s wings are liquid. He can make them move like water, or maybe more like fire, the bright golden swirling behind him. They have a solid form, which allowed for the King to cut them from his back, but it wasn’t a common sight. Glancing to the bandages, he wonders if they’re healing. He doesn’t get to spend much time with Tommy anymore, especially not alone. Jschlatt’s got his eyes on the baby almost constantly, fearful of the magic that’s developing too quickly.

He’s overtaken Dream’s abilities already, without even trying.

‘You’ll do as I say, youngling,’ Dream chides parentally. He’s not sure where Tommy got his attitude from, but it’s a dangerous thing. He backchats to anyone, including the King, and pays the price more often than Dream can save him. Dream’s never met a child before, considering they don’t have any in his Kingdom, nor does he often travel to the human realm. But he’s sure that Tommy’s loud for his age, boisterous in a way that he can’t explain.

Maybe it’s his response to being limited by the King. Dream’s known Tommy since he was born, since his mother was dragged into the court room and thrown onto the floor at the base of the throne. She protected him, or tried to, for a solid five years. A mere blink in the lifespan of a fae, but for the baby, it was a third of his life.

Dream doesn’t dare ask if Tommy remembers what happened to his mother. Considering the way he avoids every female fae in their realm, he suspects that he does remember.

Tommy huffs, rolling his eyes as his legs swing back and forth. It’s a rare moment when Dream is allowed to be with the baby; a moment where the only guards in the room are ones that are loyal to Dream. When he went to the neutral grounds, he didn’t expect his men to insist on staying at his side. He didn’t expect them to be so adamant that Tommy get sent to the Seelie court, where he’ll be safe. Safer. Dream doesn’t know if he can trust the King of the Seelie, but he has no choice. His nestling, his baby fae, needs to get away before Jschlatt kills him.

‘What if they’re just as dangerous as the King?’ Tommy pointedly says, ears flicking around like he’s seeking out sound. His senses are more powerful than Dream’s are, he’ll be able to find eavesdroppers before they have the chance to tell the King about their plan.

Dream sent the message to the Seelie court three days ago. On the next blood moon, he’ll take the baby to the neutral grounds, to the old temple that marked a safe-zone in the last war. It’s nothing but rubble now, but it is a spot that both courts know. Hidden from the dangers of the forest, nobody will be able to hurt Tommy when the protective runes still stand. ‘They aren’t. Philza is many things, but he won’t hurt a baby.’

‘Call me that again, and I’ll show you what a baby can do,’ the youngling threatens, glaring at him with anger. Dream doesn’t doubt that he’ll get thrown out of the window if he continues, so he stops calling him a baby. It isn’t a derogatory name, even if Tommy interprets it as one. It’s hard to explain to the boy that seems to have no fae instincts, the importance of fae young.

Across from them, Tubbo giggles. He’s the worst person to have around Tommy, because the two of them somehow manage to cause more chaos than should be possible. Half of the scars on Tommy’s skin are from the incidents he and Tubbo cause. The baby always takes the fall for his friend, despite Tubbo’s protests. ‘He’s a big man, Clay,’ Tubbo reminds him, the nickname that Tommy calls literally everyone grating on him.

‘Yeah, big D. I’m a Big Man,’ the boy brags, flopping back onto the couch dramatically. They’re in one of the reclining rooms in the upper part of the citadel, only able to get away with this meeting because of the visitors in their court. Jschlatt’s dealing with some nymphs that are demanding a refund for the taxes they paid, and Dream knows the floor of the throne room will be drenched in blood by the time they get back.

Dream scowls at the baby. ‘How many times do I have to remind you that Big D is not an appropriate name?’

Behind him, Sapnap snorts with laughter. He’s been guarding the door for them, considering George is supposed to be putting distance between the two of them. It isn’t safe to be seen together during the day, when the King could find out. ‘Big D,’ Sapnap mutters to himself, and Tommy looks back at the guard.

‘S’better than you, Sappy.’

One day, that sharp tongue of his is going to get him in trouble. They all know it, Tommy in particular, but he doesn’t seem to care. It’s like he doesn’t have an issue with the fact his wings were sliced from his back by Jschlatt’s talons, or that he’s usually locked in the cells below the citadel.

‘Back on topic—‘, Dream interrupts, shooting both Sapnap and Tubbo a warning look, ‘— the blood moon is tomorrow. We’ll need to get Jschlatt drunk enough that he doesn’t realise that the guards have been switched.’

‘Getting Jschlatt drunk isn’t hard,’ Tommy points out, and Dream wonders if he’s aware that he’s projecting emotions. Young fae, as a security measure, usually can’t control their emotions. Older fae have the ability to read them. Tommy’s good at masking his own, with Dream’s teaching, although he’s an open book now. Eager for just one last look at his baby brother’s mind, he briefly skirts over the feelings. Terror, combined with a hatred that burns right into his magic.

Dream makes an effort to soften his own expression, shifting his aura to a soothing one. It settles his baby, as it always does, even if Tommy doesn’t realise what he’s doing. ‘Once that’s done, we get you out of the cells, and towards the stables. Three spirits should be waiting, one for you, one for George, and one for me.’

George’s powers are useful when it comes to traversing the endless space in the Unseelie lands. He’s technically got void-blood in his DNA, making it easier for them to avoid the creatures.

‘We’ll keep him distracted, but the two of you have to be back by sunrise,’ Sapnap reminds him, and Dream nods. A blood moon means it’ll be darker for longer, but it also makes their magic weaker. It’s a sacrifice he’ll make, to get his brother out.

‘My alibi comes from the guard, so make sure they stay in for the night. Sapnap and Toby, you’ll plant the explosives in the lower section once we’ve left. By the time they detonate, we should be back.’

And Tommy will be in the temple, left to fend for himself until the Seelie court come for him. To make sure that Jschlatt doesn’t suspect collaboration between the courts, Dream suggested that they do not send any of the four royals to collect Tommy. Jschlatt’s got eyes in the Seelie court, enough to know if they are directly involved in the kidnapping of the baby fae.

Eventually, the King of the Unseelie will figure out that Tommy has swapped courts. But, as long as there’s no proof of them physically plotting to steal him, there is no reason to go to war.

‘How do I know to if the fae that arrives is the right one?’ Tommy bluntly points out. At least he remembers that he draws in fae from everywhere, as soon as they can sense him. Something about the baby fae is alluring, but it isn’t always a protective streak. Sometimes, it’s just a desire for control. Tommy may be a part of Dream’s nest, if he was allowed in one, but others didn’t see it that way. The older he gets, the more his aura spreads, attracting fae and creatures alike. Jschlatt’s protective runes around the Kingdom have been expanded for this particular reason, just to protect Tommy from what lingers in the shadows.

‘You’ll know.’

Tommy looks at him doubtfully, but doesn’t argue. For once in his life, the baby fae stays silent and just observes the situation. Dream stares right back at him, soaking up the memory of those bright eyes. Tomorrow, he’ll lose this comfort. It is for the best, he tells himself, as he moves to the couch and settles at his brother’s side. Tommy scowls, pretending to be annoyed when Dream bundles the child closer, before summoning his other brother to join them.

With fingers in Tommy’s curls, the boy goes boneless. Tubbo settles by his best friend’s side, snuggling close to savour the time they have left.

One day, Dream will return for his brother. Once the crown is his, nobody will dare touch the faeling.

Chapter Text

The pendant around Niki’s neck glows softly as her King tries to see what she can. The Blood Moon allows for a sliver of light to highlight the path to the old temple, the old magic keeping their mission secret from any of the creatures that roam the woods. It’s dangerous for fae to be alone at night, which is probably why she has Jack at her side. Her nest-mate is unimpressed with having to traverse into the neutral territory during a night when their magic is at its weakest, but the King had trusted them specifically.

‘We’re within the runes,’ she says out loud, the pendant at her neck thrumming with agreement. Phil couldn’t be here in person, in case the Unseelie King decided to use it as an excuse to declare war. It meant that he was at home in his nest, with his two sons and the Queen, watching the proceedings. Niki and Jack had been chosen for their quick-thinking and cunning ability to move through the woods. Unlike her companion, Niki had been raised in the outskirts of the Seelie Kingdom for her first couple hundred years, before seeking out her nest-mate.

It meant her wings were thicker than most of the fae her age. They were bound now, hidden under her cloak. Most Seelie chose to keep them hidden for the most part, only showing them to their nest-mates or in the presence of royalty. In fact, her King and Queen were the only fae she’d seen with their wings out constantly.

‘Any threats?’ Niki asks, looking to Jack. He’s their best tracker, hence why she relies on him to survey the scene. His normally-blue eyes glow with flashes of red in the dark, scanning for anyone in their periphery.

He shakes his head. ‘No lifeforms. The Prince isn’t within the boundaries yet.’

They have arrived first. Phil did insist that they arrive early, to scout out the area and potentially find an escape route. Niki does just that, before entering the ruined temple and keeping to the shadows. Jack copies her, stepping around the broken pillars and avoiding the spaces where moonlight hits the temple’s floor.

She is unsure how long it takes until a heartbeat approaches. Jack gives her the signal, blending into the background as she hovers in the main plaza. A flash of vivid green catches her gaze, along with the sweeping blue of the Unseelie’s livery as the fae appears. The Prince looks younger, and less of a threat, when he has no guards at his side.

He scans the clearing, obviously able to sense both her and Jack. ‘State your name,’ he demands, voice dangerously low. Niki ignores the pulsed-annoyance from her bond with Phil, and takes a half-step forward.

‘Niki Nihachu, of the Seelie King’s Court, and my nest-mate, Jack,’ she replies calmly, placing a hand to her heart and bowing to the Prince. He relaxes slightly, gesturing into the darkness behind him.

‘Dream Nightbringer, heir to the Unseelie, and my bonded, George,’ Dream greets. Niki feels the shock from both her nest-mate and the watchers through the pendant at the mention of a bonded. Sure enough, from the shadows steps a second Unseelie fae, with dark hair and even darker eyes. Patches of mushroom speckles line his neck and hands, and Niki can scent void-blood within the man.

She didn’t know that the Prince had a bonded.

Dream hesitates for a moment, before he looks behind George. ‘You can come out, baby. It’s the Seelie.’

Someone snorts in the darkness. Niki doesn’t manage to hide her surprise very well when a child appears, with wickedly golden hair and stunning eyes. He doesn’t bother to stare at her; his only focus in the Prince. ‘You’re a fucking wrongun, I ain’t a child,’ the baby shoots back, glaring at the Prince.

Dream turns to Niki with a weak smile, ‘This is Tommy, my nest-mate—’

‘Ain’t got a nest, Dream.’

‘—and he may have a mouth on him, but I swear he’s usually… tamer.’

Fae can’t lie, and it’s probably why he seems to struggle over the wording. The baby fae is slightly feral in his responses, Niki thinks, as the boy turns to look at her. ‘Ayup.’

Something in her chest flutters. That’s a baby. Her instincts insist that he shouldn’t be out in the open during a Blood Moon, he needs to be safe. She’ll take him to her own nest, if she has to. Before she realises what she’s doing, her hand is stretching out, wings trying to break free from their confines.

Dream steps in front. ‘Give it a minute, your instincts will settle. Try and remember the fact that he’s a pain in the ass,’ he offers, wincing when the baby kicks him in the back of his leg.

Niki takes a breath. The pendant is basically vibrating with excitement, all four of the royals unable to feel what Niki can, but understanding it has to be strong. When she risks a glance to her side, she realises that Jack has also stepped out from his hiding spot. Both of them drawn in like a moth to a flame, dancing to the tune of the baby’s stare.

Eventually, the Prince nods, seeing that she’s back under control.

‘We need to be going, Dream. The King will have our heads,’ the bonded fae drawls, looking to the moonlight.

Dream swallows hard, before he looks to the child at his side. ‘You have to go now, Tommy.’

The kid doesn’t budge. ‘I don’t see why I have to leave you!’

It’s an argument that they’ve had before, Niki can tell. The boy doesn’t look keen on leaving, clutching at the singular bag he has like it’s stopping him from doing something reckless. He pouts like a child having a temper tantrum, eyes wide and confused, and Niki’s heart aches.

The Prince doesn’t seem to be doing much better. It’s so clear that the child is projecting his emotions, and while Niki is doing her best to avoid them, the boy’s nest-mate is not. His eyes water, lips drawn into a sad smile when he places a hand on the boy’s shoulder. ‘You’ll be safer in the Seelie lands, remember? I’ll come back for you, as soon as the crown is mine.’

Tommy, the baby, shudders. He slumps, before kicking idly at a loose rock. ‘You promise?’

‘I swear on my blood bond,’ Dream returns, and Niki feels the promise settle into the room around them. They are all witnesses now, to an old tradition that cannot be broken. Tommy doesn’t seem to understand the importance, but they all do.

Finally, he shrugs. ‘Fine. S’like an extended vacation, right? I can go cause havoc at another court.’

Niki’s heart sings at the idea. The baby is welcome to as much chaos as he would like.

Dream rolls his eyes, before ruffling the boy’s hair. ‘You’ve got your book, and Henry? Spare clothes? Where’s your birth-stone?’

‘Stop panicking, Big D. I’ve got everything,’ Tommy chirps, patting the bag that’s strapped over his shoulder. Dream nods thoughtfully, before his fingers nimbly unhook his cloak, draping it around the boy’s shoulders. Niki doesn’t point out that it isn’t a good idea for a fae to walk into the Seelie court wearing an Unseelie cape, because she sees the way the boy’s eyes light up.

‘Mine?’

‘Until I see you again, baby brother. Now go, you know I can’t… I can’t physically abandon you.’

Ah. Niki understands the issue. As his nest-mate, Dream cannot leave Tommy. It has to be the younger’s decision, and he looks hesitant to abandon his brother. Any doubts about the authenticity of this claim fade when she sees the way they interact with each other; Dream does not want Tommy to leave.

The kid wraps arms around the Prince’s waist, hugging him tightly, before he does the same to George. Both of the fae smile, watching as Tommy finally turns to them.

Unsure eyes meet her own. He looks strangely human, save for the ears. Perhaps the hair, that glows in the light of the Blood Moon. ‘Lead the way, Big Man,’ the baby casually says, and Niki turns to Jack.

They move over the rubble, the boy following Jack and Niki moving behind to guard the youngling. Only once they’ve left the temple does she feel the presence of the Prince and his bonded vanish, going back in their own direction. Tommy’s ears are flickering, like he can hear them as they move back to the Unseelie.

It must be hard, to lose his nest-mate. Niki moves closer, until she walks at the side of the baby, and glances down. ‘The Seelie Court will keep you safe, until your brother can come back for you,’ she assures, and the child studies her for a moment.

‘I can keep myself safe. Dream’s just an idiot,’ he tells her, slightly aggressively, fingers curling into the cape around his shoulders.

Niki doesn’t argue. They need to stay silent; the neutral grounds are dangerous. Jack closes in on Tommy’s other side, and they make their way through the woods. Occasionally, she asks him questions. What is his favourite colour? Red. What are his hobbies? Mayhem. Has he ever been outside of the Unseelie Palace? Yes.

She almost thinks that he is warming up to her, when the boy halts. Niki falters, turning to stare at the baby, while Jack just calls at the both of them to hurry up. ‘We’ve got to be at the Court by sunrise, come on!’

The child doesn’t move. His ears are flicking back and forth in such a hurry that Niki worries that they might just… stop working. She’s not sure that’s possible, but her instincts urge her to keep the baby safe.

‘Tommy?’

‘There’s something in the woods, straight ahead,’ Tommy murmurs quietly, looking past Niki. She watches in surprise as his eyes glow a vivid blue, the colour of the lightning that races over the sky, before he lunges.

Niki’s not sure why. She just watches as the baby throws his weight into Jack, who tumbles to the side with the child on top of him just in time for something to split the air where they had been standing. It takes only a moment for her to realise that the object was a barb, and out from the undergrowth comes a stinger.

Like a human scorpion, only this creature’s torso stands at Niki’s head-height, with a tail looped over onto its spine, a sharp poison-stinger at the end. Six ugly legs covered in scales clatter as it rushes at Niki, seeing her as the best target. Her sword is drawn in a heartbeat, calling forth her fire to race along the blade.

Concern floods from the pendant, but she can’t think too much about it. A stinger’s poison is fatal to a young fae, probably to her as well. But the baby is in the clearing, and she has to protect him, no matter the cost. That is her duty.

She gets a good hit, before rolling to the side to avoid the creature’s tail. When she prepares for it to charge again, Niki realises that the creature has fallen still. The stinger stares at her, before its eyes switch from red to blue, and it crashes to the ground. The body begins to shudder, like currents of energy are passing through it, and Niki turns to identify the source of strong magic.

The baby looks annoyed. He’s got a hand outstretched, blue wisps of magic darting over his pale fingers, while he concentrates on keeping the creature subdued. Behind him, Jack is watching with wide eyes.

That’s high-class magic. In the Seelie Court, they split magic into ten branches, with one being the lowest level, and ten the highest. Niki probably could rank a six on a good day, and Jack a five. Phil, their King, is usually a nine. His power dabbles into ten when it has to. Kristin is a ten, without a doubt. Wilbur and Techno, although they both adamantly state that they’re stronger than the other, both settle at an eight. Most of the Seelie Court stay around a three or a four.

The magic that the boy is using is around a seven. On a Blood Moon. Without so much as breaking a sweat, twisting his hand as a cracking sound rings out across the clearing. The stinger’s back breaks, effectively killing it, and the baby looks at her sword. ‘You’ve got strong magic,’ he accuses, looking mildly fearful.

She dulls the flames on her sword immediately. ‘I swear to you, I shall never use it against you.’

The child doesn’t look convinced. His eyes narrow on her, before he looks to Jack. ‘Could you not hear it?’

‘Seelie fae cannot hear as far as Unseelie,’ Niki awkwardly says, though she regrets it when the boy rolls his eyes.

‘I’m not an Unseelie, bitch. Nor am I a Seelie,’ he thoughtfully adds, and although she should be upset at the insult, there’s a softness when he says it that makes Niki smile.

‘Forgive me, I did not mean to insult you.’

‘Stop talking like a stuck-up, and show me this new court.’

They continue on the trek. Tommy now seems to prefer Jack, avoiding Niki’s sword like he remembers the fire on it. As they make their way through the trees, and towards the strict boundary of the Seelie Court, Tommy looks over at them. ‘Do I get a room at your Court?’

Niki frowns. ‘Of course? I think the King’s ordered for you to have a suite in the eastern wing—’

‘What’s a suite?’

‘A set of rooms,’ Jack answers, stepping over the boundary. Phil’s magic pulses around him, before accepting him home. Tommy regards the barrier with a neutral expression, although Niki catches a flash of fear when he steps over.

Of course, Phil is expecting him, so there is no harm done to the baby.

‘That’s pretty pog. Why do you need more than one room, though?’

Niki is the last to cross the boundary, smiling as the warmth of spring takes over her body. ‘A bedroom, a room for changing, a wash room. Somewhere to entertain guests. Perhaps a kitchen, for food.’

Tommy’s eyes are as wide as the moon above them. He looks positively thrilled at the idea, bouncing on the balls of his feet as they begin the trek over the meadows towards the nearest track to the Golden City. ‘All of them for me? That’s so cool!’

Niki laughs at the boy’s enthusiasm, her heart urging her to reach for him, but she restrains. ‘Did you not have a suite in the Unseelie Court?’ she inquires, staring at the flowers that seem to bloom as the faeling walks past, despite the moonlight.

‘Nope, just a cell in the prison,’ Tommy responds, like it is a perfectly ordinary thing to say.

Something fierce stabs in her chest. It tightens uncomfortably, to the point where she wants to march right back into the dark woodlands and demand answers. ‘No nest?’

‘S’a fae thing, I don’t have your instincts.’

That explains why the boy seems oblivious to the fact that the two of them want nothing more than to invite Tommy to their nest, to share their bond. Is it because he was born, and not made? So many questions, none of which she gets the chance to ask, because the baby has found something more exciting to do than talk.

‘What is that?’ he shrieks, before rushing off in the direction of the sheep grazing in the meadow.

Niki can’t stop the laughter that bubbles from her lips when they run, and the faeling takes off in their wake.

Chapter Text

Tommy’s in a new Court. Nicknamed the Golden City, Tommy spares a look for the sunlit-arches and sweeping marble pillars, leading towards the place where the humming energy is the strongest. Around them, fae buzz around the Palace, eyes trained on him like he’s the newest fashion accessary of court. At home, the fae know better than to stare. Many have had their eyes plucked, just for the instincts which Dream tried to explain could not be ignored. Tommy didn’t really feel bad for the Unseelie, because he knew that half of the ones that could not ignore their instincts, were not exactly going to do nice things when they got their hands on him.

Niki is at one side, with Jack on the other. They flank him, auras wide open and exposed to Tommy’s curious probing. It was clear back in the temple, as clear as it is now, that they want to protect him. To keep him safe. Something about not only being young, but also being born, makes Tommy special. However, it’s only a matter of time until the urge to protect shifts. No longer is he precious, he’s a commodity. Valuable. A prized possession. Locked up and kept out of reach.

That’s what happened at the Unseelie Court. No longer was he allowed to play with Tubbo, or spend time with his brother. Out of everyone at the court, those were the only two that he trusted. George and Sapnap were friends, but he could see their internal dilemma when it came to Tommy freely roaming the lands of the Unseelie.

Dream loved him for him. Not because he was valuable. Tubbo was his best friend because they were both young, and could bond over the fact that literally everyone had the urge to protect them.

Back to his new Court. The doors to the central room open, and Tommy is struck by how bright it is. Sunlight filters through the glass windows at the far end of the room, and along the sides. Mosaics paint pictures on the floor beneath, the sunrise casting the room in a warm hue. There are no humans lining the walk to the thrones, nobody at all save for some fae guarding the door.

Tommy catches his first sight of the royals. The King is the easiest to spot, with his green robes and the golden crown on his head. Dark black wings are folded behind him, contrasting with the bright metals of the throne under him. At his side sits… a Queen.

He wasn’t aware that the Kingdom had a Queen. Something uncomfortable twists in his gut as he briefly takes note of her wings, a similar shade to the King’s.

The two Princes are on either side of the thrones. The heir is younger, with a mess of dark hair. He looks like a beanpole, Tommy decides, studying the paper-thin wings behind the man. The other is clearly a warrior. A sword hangs at his side, a crown of silver that contrasts pink hair, and wings of almost leather texture spreading behind him. Taller than any of his nest-mates.

They reach an appropriate distance. Niki and Jack both bow, while Tommy watches the way that the royals’ pupils dilate. It’s hardly unexpected, they’re only fae. It’s a natural response to his presence. Still, he glares at all of them, focusing on the beanpole that looks moments away from coming to his side.

‘Keep your eyes to yourself, bitch boy,’ Tommy snarls, an uncomfortable pain throbbing in his back. The Prince looks surprised, before smiling so widely that Tommy fears it may split his face.

‘Hello, mate,’ the King begins, a soft look in his eyes that makes Tommy roll his own, ‘I’m Philza, but you can call me Phil. This is my wife, Kristin, and our boys, Technoblade and Wilbur.’

Tommy makes a note to use absolutely none of their names. ‘Old man,’ he greets tensely, trying to remember that he’s supposed to be playing nicely.

The Queen laughs. Tommy flinches.

‘We have rooms set up for you, which I’m sure one of my boys will show you. You must be tired after your journey, so if you wish to rest, we can do a formal tour after?’ Philza asks earnestly, like he has this entire situation planned out.

Tommy shrugs, ‘Whatever you want, big man.’

‘I’ll take him!’ the younger Prince declares, bounding down the stairs towards him. Tommy flicks him a glare, jutting his chin out.

‘Watch it, beanpole.’

The Prince sniggers, ‘At least I’m not a child, you gremlin.’

‘Wilbur!’

‘Oi! I’m not a child you fucking—’

‘Boys,’ the Queen calls, and Tommy does listen to her. He snaps his head to stare at the mild look of amusement on her face, before quickly staring at anything but her.

‘Come on, Toms. This way.’

True to Niki’s word, he does have a suite. There’re multiple rooms, with a large bed that looks comfy. Mountains of blankets and pillows draw him in like a siren’s call, before he realises that Wilbur’s leaning in the doorway, watching him.

‘What?’ Tommy snaps defensively, lowering his bag onto the bed. He doesn’t have much, because Jschlatt wouldn’t let him keep things, but there’s enough. Like the cape around his shoulders, which Tommy is never going to abandon.

Wilbur shrugs. ‘You need anything else? I notice you don’t have much.’

Something close to sympathy burns in his unnatural eyes. The Prince, like most fae, has unhuman aspects to his appearance. A flitting of scales around the base of his neck, a ghostly appearance in his eyes when they turn grey momentarily.

‘Fuck off,’ Tommy responds, but it lacks the heat it should have. The Prince doesn’t seem to care that he got angry. Instead, he turns to leave, telling Tommy that he’ll return when it’s time for lunch. As the door shuts, Tommy realises it’s the first time he’s been alone, other than his cell, for a very long time.

He doesn’t like it.

It doesn’t matter that there are more rooms attached, that he has a small entranceway to the room with couches and a coffee table and a selection of books to read. None of it matters, because a room is still a room. There may be more than four walls, but it is still a cell. A new prison, crafted in a different court.

He finds his fangs lowering before he can stop them, digging into the soft flesh of his lower lip. Blood beads under the pressure, combining with the tears that begin to fall down his cheeks. He was once told that the scent of his sadness could lure in fae from great distances, so he isn’t surprised when his hearing picks up on Wilbur faltering half-way down the corridor.

He expects the man to come back. To smother him in affection, in false comfort that’ll turn into Tommy becoming property again. Instead, he listens to the fae-prince curl his fingers into fists, take a deep breath, and continue on his way.

Tommy slumps down on the mattress, too exhausted and alone to think about what that might mean.

**

The table stretches out in front, piled high with foods that Tommy can do nothing but stare at. He should probably be bowing to the royals that are already seated, but instead he wonders if they eat like this every day, not just at feasting events.

‘Ah, Tommy! Sit where you’d like,’ the King greets him warmly, gesturing down the table. He sits at the head, with his Queen at his side, and a Prince on either.

At the table? Tommy hesitates, wondering if this might be a trap. Dream told him that life in the Seelie Court was different, but why would they place him at the table alongside them? He studies the available seats. He could sit next to Wilbur, who he knows better than the other Prince, but that puts him closer to the Queen.

Yeah, he’s going to be avoiding that for as long as possible, so he chooses the seat at Prince Technoblade’s side. The fae briefly looks surprised, before pushing a plate of unknown food in his direction.

‘Help yourself, my dear,’ the Queen adds, beaming.

Tommy stays mostly silent as he takes tiny amounts of the dishes closest to him. It’s more than he’s eaten in weeks, so he isn’t going to cram it all into his stomach. The four royals chatter away, occasionally trying to get him to join in, but Tommy’s not really used to being welcomed into a moment like this.

At the Unseelie Court, Jschlatt eats dinner in his room with Tubbo and Dream. Tommy’s occasionally present, to kneel at the King’s side and act as a docile pet. He isn’t Unseelie, nor Seelie, so it’s to be expected.

‘—and the weather here is warmer. How are you finding it, Tommy?’

He narrowly avoids choking on whatever vegetable he’s been chewing on when the Queen speaks. Her gaze is warm, and almost affectionate, so Tommy drops it immediately.

There’s no Queen in the Unseelie Court. Fae are made, as opposed to being born, so Jschlatt had no reason to take a wife. He has lovers, obviously, but Tommy does his best to ignore them. Especially the ones that use their beauty to get close to the King, to get close to him. He’s a delicacy, as the King would put it. Something that they want to stare at.

‘S’fine.’

‘You’re free to roam the grounds of the palace, there’s a garden down by the pond that looks stunning in the sunset,’ she continues, regardless of Tommy’s hesitancy to respond.

Wilbur pipes up, ‘I’ll show you it tonight, if you want?’

If he wants. Not if they want. Tommy’s unsure what this elaborate plan is, but he’ll deal with it. This is, after all, his home until his brother can take the throne of the Unseelie Court. Tommy wonders how long it’ll take. Weeks? Months?

Then, he remembers the whole immortality issue.

For those sitting around him, years would seem like the blink of an eye. Dream might not take the throne until Tommy’s an adult, until he’s stopped aging.

He could be here for decades.

‘Sounds good, beanpole,’ Tommy replies, meeting Wilbur’s eye in a challenge. The Prince rolls his eyes, but there’s a smile on his lips that tells Tommy he isn’t pushing too far.

Not that he cares. He’ll test every limit while he’s here, without hesitation.

‘We’ll all go. It’s been a while since I’ve watched the sunset,’ Philza tells the table, as his wife places her hand over his. Tommy watches the easy affection with a grimace.

‘Old man,’ Tommy and the two Princes say in unison, before looking to each other.

When the Queen laughs, and the King scowls at the three of them, Tommy wonders if this is what it might be like to have a nest.

**

The Seelie Court thrums with magic. More than he’s used to, staring out at the sea of flowers in front of him. There’s something beautiful in the way they twist and turn, chasing the setting sun in a desperate attempt to bloom for a little longer. Eventually, as the pinks turn to purples above them, Tommy watches as they close up.

It makes his chest hurt.

Philza is seated on a bench at the entrance to the garden, with the Queen at his side. The two Princes are bickering, because Technoblade managed to push Wilbur into one of the shrubbery bushes. A couple of guards accompany them, including Niki, who turns to look at Tommy.

‘They’ll bloom again tomorrow,’ she says softly, although it carries in the quietness of the garden.

In the Unseelie lands, there’s rarely flowers. Not like these ones, not ones that aren’t poisonous or trying to eat him. These ones are just a thing of beauty, and Tommy inhales sharply at the memory of the last time he got to witness this kind of tranquillity.

His mother had been Unseelie. Yet she weaved an ability to craft life, to make things bloom in the most elegant of ways. Flowers would always be tucked into her braid, or forming in the palm of her hand as an offering to him. After he lost her – murder – Tommy had tried to copy her abilities, to take flowers to her grave.

Graves weren’t a fae thing, usually, because they rarely died. Only in disgrace, or in war. Otherwise, they got old, and occasionally decided to pass on.

He doesn’t like the closed buds, or the band in his chest that’s getting tighter with every second that passes. Niki’s eyes are on him, like she’s trying to read his emotions, but he’s blocking them. ‘Tommy?’ she quietly calls, fingers reaching out for him.

The Seelie Court is stunning, but it’s also painful. Tommy’s not sure if he can last the years that will be needed for his brother to take the throne, he doesn’t know if he can pretend that this place doesn’t make something in him burn.

‘It’s okay, little one,’ Niki murmurs, as she entwines their fingers together, squeezing, ‘You’re safe here, remember? I gave you my word.’

Niki’s hair would look pretty with flowers braided into it, Tommy decides. Keeping one hand in hers, he stretches his other out and calls upon his magic. It’s happy to respond, tugging on the power of the Court under his feet, and spreading out over the garden.

They bloom instantaneously. Every colour he’s ever seen, from rich reds to the darkest of blues, through to pastels, light up the garden. The flowers twist towards him like he is their sun, and to Tommy’s delight, it summons the night-moths to the garden. Niki gasps, watching as the tiny specks of light gather over the garden. ‘Fire-flies,’ she tells him, and Tommy drops his hand.

The flowers continue to bloom.

When no repercussions come from using his magic so openly, Tommy darts a look to the woman holding his hand. She’s young, and so different from the only other woman he’s met and spent time with, so it doesn’t hurt like it does to stare at the Queen.

Maybe, just maybe, he could get used to living at the Seelie Court. Just until his brother calls for his return.

Niki squeezes his hand again, smiling at the garden in front of them.